UNIT II
ANALYSIS OF HVDC CONVERTERS
• Line commutated converter
• Analysis of Graetz circuit with and without overlap
• Pulse number
• Choice of converter configuration
• Converter bridge characteristics
• Analysis of 12 pulse converters
• Analysis of VSC topologies and firing schemes.
Introduction
• Electronics converters for HVDC are divided into two main
categories.
• LCC are made with electronics switches that can only be turned
on.
• VSC are made with switching devices that can be turned on and
off.
• LCC used mercury are valves until the 1970’s, thyristors from the
1970’s to the present day.
• VSC which first appeared in HVDC in 1997 use transistor usually
the insulted gate bipolar transistor(IGBT).
Line commutated converters:
• The basic configuration of a 3ɸ converter (both LCC and VSC) is
a bridge converter (also called Graetz Bridge) which can be fed
from transformer windings connected in star or delta.
• The converter transformer feeding a Graetz bridge serves the
objectives of providing
[Link] separation between AC and DC Side.
[Link] transformation between AC and DC Side.
3. OLTC- Applied voltage can change.
An autotransformer can meet the last two objectives but cannot
provide galvanic separation.
6 pulse converter
• In a LCC the switches are made of thyristors valves, whereas in a
VSC, they are made up of IGBT valves ( a series connection of IGBT
and anti-parallel connected diode).
Analysis of Graetz Bridge
• Simplify analysis of greatz circuit have 2 methods.
Analysis of Graetz bridge Without overlap
• LCC – SCR Switches.
• VSC – IGBT switches.
Ac side- 3Ø AC Voltage source.
DC side – DC Current source.
S1,S2....S6 SWITCHES(SCR) are used in given
rating.
SCR- A,K,G
• SCR- ON by Gate (A +ve and K –ve)
• SCR – OFF by Reversing Voltage.
Current flow is A to K only.
S1,S3,S5 - CURRENT CARRYING TOWARDS “P”
S2,S4,S6 - CURRENT CARRYING FROM“N”
Overlap- Neglected- but it is present due to
Inductance of Transformer.
Graetz circuit with overlap
• Due to leakage inductance if the converter transformer and
the impedance in the supply networks the current in a valve
cannot change suddenly and the commutation from one valve
to next cannot be instantaneous.
Mode 1: two and three valve conduction ( u < 60)
Mode 2: Three valve conduction ( u = 60)
Mode 3: Three valve four valve conduction ( u > 60)
Choice of converter configuration
1. Pulse number
• The number of pulsations ( cycle of ripple ) per cycle of
alternating voltage.
• The conversion from AC to DC involves switching sequentially
different sinusoidal voltages on to the DC circuit.
• The output voltage of the converter consists of a DC component
and a ripple whose frequency is determined by the pulse
number.
hdc= np
hac= np ± 1
2. Valve and switches
• It can be treated as switch which can be turned on at any instant,
provided the voltage across it is positive.
• A diode is an uncontrolled switch which will turn on immediately
after the voltage becomes positive where as thyristors switching
can be delayed by an angle.
• the opening of the switch (both for diode and thyristor) occurs at
the current zero.
3. Converter configuration
• The configuration for given pulse number is selected in such a
way that both the valve and transformer utilization are maximized.
• converter configuration can be defined as basic commutation
group and the number of groups connected in series and
parallel.
4. Valve rating
• The valve rating is specified in terms of PIV. The ratio of PIV to
the average dc voltages is an index of the valve utilization.
• =2
5. Peak inverse voltage
• If q is even,
• If q is odd,
6. Utilization factor
The ratio of PIV to the average DC voltage is known as utilization
factor.
For q is even